Camera with blocking device to prevent accidental shutter opening due to mechanical shock such as when camera jarred or drop

Abstract

A camera comprising an aperture through which ambient light is passed to cause a film exposure, a shutter blade pivotable open to uncover the aperture to permit ambient light to pass through the aperture and pivotable closed to re-cover the aperture and susceptible of being moved accidentally due to mechanical shock such as when the camera is dropped or jarred, and a shutter actuator movable to pivot the shutter blade open to uncover the aperture, is characterized in that a blocking device is positioned within a blocking range of the shutter blade to block the shutter blade from being pivoted open to uncover the aperture when the shutter blade is moved accidentally due to mechanical shock, and the shutter blade is supported to be moved out of the blocking range of the blocking device when the shutter actuator is moved to pivot the shutter blade open to uncover the aperture.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A camera comprising an aperture through which ambient light is passed to cause a film exposure, a shutter blade movable open to uncover said aperture to permit ambient light to pass through said aperture and movable closed to re-cover said aperture and susceptible of being moved accidentally due to mechanical shock such as when said camera is dropped or jarred, and a shutter actuator movable to move said shutter blade open to uncover said aperture, is characterized in that: a blocking device is positioned adjacent said shutter blade to prevent said shutter blade from being moved open to uncover said aperture when said shutter blade is moved accidentally due to mechanical shock, and to permit said shutter blade to be moved open to uncover said aperture when said shutter actuator is moved to move said shutter blade open.   
     
     
       2. A camera comprising an aperture through which ambient light is passed to cause a film exposure, a shutter blade pivotable open to uncover said aperture to permit ambient light to pass through said aperture and pivotable closed to re-cover said aperture and susceptible of being moved accidentally due to mechanical shock such as when said camera is dropped or jarred, and a shutter actuator movable to pivot said shutter blade open to uncover said aperture, is characterized in that: a blocking device is positioned within a blocking range of said shutter blade to block said shutter blade from being pivoted open to uncover said aperture when said shutter blade is moved accidentally due to mechanical shock; and   said shutter blade is supported to be moved out of the blocking range of said blocking device when said shutter actuator is moved to pivot said shutter blade open to uncover said aperture.   
     
     
       3. A camera as recited in claim 2, wherein said blocking device is immovably fixed in place. 
     
     
       4. A camera as recited in claim 2, wherein said shutter blade is supported to be translated to be moved out of the blocking range of said blocking device. 
     
     
       5. A camera as recited in claim 2, wherein a closing spring biases said shutter blade to be pivoted closed to re-cover said aperture and to prevent said shutter blade from being translated to be moved out of the blocking range of said blocking device when said shutter blade is moved accidentally due to mechanical shock. 
     
     
       6. A camera as recited in claim 4, wherein said shutter blade is positioned in the way of said shutter actuator for said shutter actuator to translate said shutter blade to be moved out of blocking range of said blocking device when said shutter actuator is moved to pivot said shutter blade open. 
     
     
       7. A camera as recited in claim 6, wherein said shutter blade has a slot with a pair of first and second opposite closed ends, and a fixed pivot pin projects into said slot to support said shutter blade to be translated to change from said first closed end of said slot being against said pivot pin to said second closed end of said slot being against said pivot pin and to be pivoted open to uncover said aperture and closed to re-cover said aperture when said second closed end of said slot is against said pivot pin. 
     
     
       8. A camera as recited in claim 7, wherein said closing spring biases said shutter blade to be pivoted closed to re-cover said aperture and to be translated to change from said second closed end of said slot being against said pivot pin to said first closed end of said slot being against said pivot pin. 
     
     
       9. A camera as recited in claim 8, wherein a light-intercepting rib is configured to partially surround said shutter blade when said shutter blade is closed and has a blade stop portion which acts as a fulcrum to allow said closing spring to translate said shutter blade to change from said second closed end of said slot being against said pivot pin to said first closed end of said slot being against said pivot pin. 
     
     
       10. A camera comprising an aperture through which ambient light is passed to cause a film exposure, a shutter blade movable open to uncover said aperture to permit ambient light to pass through said aperture and movable closed to re-cover said aperture and susceptible of being moved accidentally due to mechanical shock such as when the camera is dropped or jarred, and a shutter actuator movable to move said shutter blade open to uncover said aperture, is characterized in that: a blocking device is positioned within a blocking range of said shutter blade to block said shutter blade from being moved open to uncover said aperture when said shutter blade is moved accidentally due to mechanical shock; and   said shutter blade is supported to be translated to be moved out of the blocking range of said blocking device when said shutter actuator is moved to move said shutter blade open to uncover said aperture.